“Dear Jesus, I ask you to
direct every word that I write. Then I ask you to prepare the hearts and minds
of readers who will accept your invitation to join me in reaching the children
and youth who are living in a dangerous and hostile society. Amen”

Priests in the Bible are
generally described as those who represent the people to God. Prophets
generally represent God to the people with sermons like: “Thus says the Lord.
Repent or perish.”

Today I speak as a prophet
calling our community to repent of our failure to prevent the forces of evil
to corrupt our society into such a godless condition that our youth are
tempted to die rather than live in their hopeless conditions.

A majority of people who
read my words are willing to do their part to reclaim our community for God.
Sadly, they simply don’t know what they can do. I will give suggestions that
will help them become part of the solution.

My first suggestion is that
willing readers ask God to show them at least one troubled young person. This
may take a day or two but God may answer your prayer by causing you to think
of a child. That child will become your assignment.

Discover how simple it is
to join Jesus in helping another person, regardless of age. You are ready to
become a helper if you are willing to give a needy child a drink of water.

“Why, anyone by just
giving you a cup of water in my name is on our side. Count on it that God will
notice.” (Mark 9:41 MSG)

When I was in college, I
had a job of delivering clothes for a dry cleaning business. One day I saw
a ten-year-old boy lying on the sidewalk with his pant leg caught in his bike
chain. While I helped solve his problem I asked him if he went to Sunday
school. He did and I told him I did too. As I drove away I had good rewarding
feelings. I had given that boy a “cup of water.”

To help raise the depressed
atmosphere in our community I urge us to begin what could be called, “The Cup
of Cold Water Group.” Everyone who joins such a group will immediately become
partners with almighty God. God wants to save every young person in our
community. He wants to use us as part of his search and rescue team.

Listen to the welcome Jesus
gives to newcomers. “It’s best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to
someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving
makes you a true apprentice (a beginner, a trainee). You won’t lose out on a
thing.” (Matt 10:42 MSG)

At the final judgment we
will be rewarded. “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you
talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give
you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’
Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of
these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.”
(Matt 25: 37-40 MSG) They will be ushered into heaven.

Suggested prayer: “Dear
God. Please bring at least one needy child to my attention this week. Help me
to watch for that child and remember the “Cup of Water” story. Please tell me
what to say and what to do. Thank you. Amen.”